IEN: What are the major concerns facing the material handling sector in the next few years? How can they be addressed?

Albert: Manufacturing now and in the coming years will demand more flexibility from material handling systems. This means equipment will be required to adapt to frequently changing production configurations. At the same time, ergonomic considerations will demand this same equipment must adapt to the physical demands of the people doing the job. The tighter profit margins that will be part of the economic recovery for most companies will not tolerate the disruptions resulting from the injuries that come from poorly designed work processes. Furthermore, perceptive management recognizes that as worker stamina degrades, so does the quality and pace of the work. Lift tables and other positioning devices will play a role in putting the work within easy reach to prevent back, leg, and arm strain.

IEN: What innovations are in store for users (in materials, equipment, software systems, and/or design)?

Albert: Both production management and production workers will be taking a closer look at how work is performed. Every motion has the potential to cumulatively lead to an injury, so work should be ideally designed to require minimal movement. Increasingly, production management is recognizing that the individual worker inherently knows the best position and plane to access the work. Along with the fatigue factor, if motion is restricted, so is the ability to efficiently accomplish the job. Operations will utilize a variety of powered lift tables and stackers that will present the work to provide this efficient access. Along with their ability to lift, tilt, and rotate, these devices will enable easy positioning on the floor to meet the demands for quick setup of the task. This equipment will enable tasks to be confined to the "ergonomic window" -- the range for which a worker can reach for objects with minimal range of motion for the arms and back as well as bending motion. Many operations are also endeavoring to keep lifting within a maximum of 50 pounds for men and 35 pounds for women. Equipment will be provided which will confine exertion to those limits.

IEN: Is the drive toward lean/flexible manufacturing impacting this sector? In what ways?

Albert: Manufacturing used to be based around a plant that had a fixed conveyor system and production equipment within the four walls of the plant. Changes to the layout came infrequently and required shutdowns to the operation with very often the involvement of an army of riggers, electricians, and plumbers. In other words, change was seldom done. Now, the process is dictated by the customer and executed in a responsive manner by both workers and management as coordinated through lean manufacturing exercises. The process is moving away from a chain of manufacturing events to individual cells, feeding into the flow, as raw materials become products.

Our experience with sites such as the General Motors casting plant in Saginaw, MI demonstrates that Presto Lifts and its distributors are working closely with both management and the people doing the job to offer lifting devices that facilitate productivity gains (click here to read case history).

As the pace of change increases and the industrial markets grow ever more competitive, the necessity of lean, flexible manufacturing systems becomes crucial to long-term stability, growth, and ultimately company survival. Lifting and positioning equipment will play a major role in the lean picture. Debilitating injuries requiring time on modified duty or off work compromises the ability of companies to maintain a lean system.

With the minimal setup this equipment requires, companies will be able to execute responsive lean manufacturing strategies. Recognizing this demand for flexibility, Presto Lifts has for the past two years offered its Always in Stock program, which provides rapid delivery of many of its scissors lifts and stacker models.

For over 50 years, Presto has been developing precision hydraulic equipment to improve safety and productivity. The company now offers more than 500 different models of lifts, tables, and tilters, and its product offerings include the Rol-Lift high quality pallet jacks and manual stackers.